Wilkes University is committed to ensuring that all employees have equal access to employment opportunities and a supportive work environment. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other relevant laws, the university will provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities and other needs they might have, unless doing so would cause an undue hardship to the workplace.
This policy applies to all Wilkes University faculty, staff, and candidates who are offered employment.
Process for Requesting and Determining Reasonable Accommodations
Employees who require a reasonable accommodation due to a disability must notify their supervisor or the Human Resources Manager for Employee Benefits in writing utilizing the following Reasonable Accommodations Request form.
Download the Reasonable Accommodations Request Form (.pdf)
Supervisors who receive requests for accommodation should contact human resources upon receipt of the request. The university will then engage in an interactive process with the employee to determine the most appropriate reasonable accommodation(s). The Human Resources Manager for Employee Benefits will review the request and work with the applicable manager(s) to determine if the desired accommodation is reasonable and effective.
During the interactive process, the employee may be asked to provide additional information or documentation to support the request, such as a doctor’s note or a report from a vocational rehabilitation counselor. The Human Resources Manager for Employee Benefits will communicate the determination to the employee in writing, including the reason for any denial of the requested accommodation.
Reasonable Accommodations Examples
Not an inclusive list:
- Job restructuring, such as reassigning or modifying job duties to accommodate a disability, if possible
- Adjustments to physical work environment such as modification of work areas through the use of adaptive office furniture/equipment, or adjustments to lighting/HVAC settings
- Modification of standard work schedules including changes to start and end times, extended time away from work to accommodate treatment/therapy appointments
- Confidentiality
The Human Resources department will share employee disability-related restrictions and related requests only to the extent needed to engage fully in the interactive process and to determine if any accommodation is reasonable without causing an undue hardship to the workplace.
By accepting employment with Wilkes University, employees acknowledge that they have read, understood, and will comply with the terms of this policy.
Wilkes University reserves the right to amend or modify this policy at any time, without notice.